Best Baseball Betting Sites & Apps 2021 – Our Top 10 Sportsbooks for Betting on Baseball in Canada
With the recent approval of Bill C-218, single sports betting is on the horizon in Canada. While some online bookmakers have been able to operate in Canada’s legal grey zone, Canadian bettors will soon have access to some of the world’s best and most popular sports betting apps. That means Canadians will be able to legally make wagers at their fingertips, betting on baseball, hockey, football, basketball, and more.
One of the most popular sports in the world, baseball is thrust into the limelight during the summer months. With the basketball and hockey seasons winding down and football season a few months away, bettors have a chance to focus their attention on one sport, which can be an advantage over the course of a full season.
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200% welcome bonus up to €25,000 + 50 Free Spins
200% welcome bonus up to €25,000 + 50 Free Spins
- Best rated new sportsbook in Canada
- Great range of esports
- Superb live betting coverage
100% Up To C$150
100% Up To C$150
- Thousands of pre-match & live events
- Fast payouts
- Hugely competitive odds
100% up to 150 CAD
100% up to 150 CAD
- Huge selection of sports betting offers
- High odds and excellent in-play bets
- Rich variety of bonuses, reloads and specials
100% Up To $C500 Bonus
100% Up To $C500 Bonus
- Excellent sports coverage
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- Fantastic live betting opportunities
$400 Welcome Bonus
$400 Welcome Bonus
- Variety of games
- Generous bonuses
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200% welcome deposit bonus of up to $1,000
200% welcome deposit bonus of up to $1,000
- Excellent sports coverage and market depth
- 24/7 Customer Support
- Extensive choice of cryptocurrency banking options
100% Deposit Bonus Up To $200 Free Bet
100% Deposit Bonus Up To $200 Free Bet
- Canada's Best Betting Brand
- Easiest Payment and Deposit Methods
- More Options Than Any Other Online Sportsbook
100% Up To $C200 Bonus
100% Up To $C200 Bonus
- Well-known and trusted brand
- Outstanding odds, always
- Interac, Paysafecard & ecoPayz available
100% Up To $300
100% Up To $300
- Huge sports welcome offer
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- Accepts Bitcoin payments
Bet $10 Get $10 Free
Bet $10 Get $10 Free
- Relatively new site
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100% Bonus up to C$300
100% Bonus up to C$300
- Easy to use sportsbook site
- 24/7 customer support
- Generous welcome offer
Baseball’s recent Moneyball revolution has put the spotlight on advanced statistics and analytics but teams aren’t the only ones making use of this valuable information. Now, fans that do their research will also have the opportunity to cash in and turn a consistent profit using their baseball knowledge. Thanks to a long, drawn-out regular season schedule and a wealth of advanced stats, baseball is often considered one of the most lucrative sports to bet on.
For example, a typical Major League Baseball season features a 162-game schedule, which gives bettors 2,430 games to wager on and countless markets to exploit. The Korean Baseball Organization (KBO) also features an elongated schedule with a 144-game season. This allows fans to maximize their edge over time, which makes baseball a great sport to target for volume bettors.
The pace of the game is perfect for sports bettors too. Unlike most sports, which feature a constant dose of back-and-forth action, baseball games move forward on a pitch-by-pitch basis, creating a friendly environment for gambling. While baseball leagues have tried to speed up the pace of the game in recent seasons, the time between pitches gives bettors a unique opportunity to analyze the markets and get creative with their wagers. Per Bally Sports, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver told MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred that he believes the pace of a baseball game is “absolutely perfect for sports betting”.
Betting on a baseball game also takes the fan experience to new heights, increasing the importance of every ball and strike during the course of a game. According to Manfred, sports betting creates a “massive opportunity for fan engagement.” And with the MLB projected to bring in approximately $1.1 billion in new revenue through sports gambling, there are plenty of reasons for all parties to be excited.
"We favored the idea of federal legislation. Having said that, the states have evolved…the biggest issue is that sports betting is a massive opportunity for fan engagement" – Rob Manfred – Commissioner of Baseball
Watch now: https://t.co/bPrhIyLeuC pic.twitter.com/BtNbfZkW45
— Sportico (@Sportico) April 27, 2021
Baseball betting online allows fans to take advantage of pre-game lines and in-play odds, where they can use their sports knowledge or bet with their instincts to turn a profit. In order to maximize the return of every wager and the overall return of their investment, bettors need to shop around for the best odds across multiple sportsbooks.
Choosing the right sportsbook can be an arduous task, especially for sports fans that are new to betting. To help Canadian bettors overcome the odds and knock it out of the park, our team has compiled a list of the top ten best baseball betting apps currently operating in Canada’s sports betting market. Using algorithms and expert analysis, we have compiled a list of the best sites for betting on baseball in Canada based on very specific criteria, including banking options, brand recognition, ease of use, safety, security, and more.
Below, you will find a brief review of each sportsbook along with a few ways they’ve distinguished themselves from the competition.
This list will be updated regularly, so please feel free to check back for the most up-to-date information and rankings.
How We Rank Our Baseball Betting Sites
Our sportsbook rankings are based on a comprehensive set of criteria, which will be outlined below.
- First, we ensured that all of the sportsbooks recommended below welcome Canadian bettors. These bookmakers have developed strong reputations within the sports betting industry and are 100 percent safe. New users can trust that they are using a reliable service and will not have any issues during the deposit or withdrawal process.
- Next, we examined the various deposit and withdrawal options available to users at some of the most popular sportsbooks. Which oddsmakers have the most deposit options and the fastest payout process?
- Is your sportsbook trustworthy? We took a deep dive into each company’s reputation, taking into consideration customer experiences and feedback to see if they are truly putting their customers first.
- How user-friendly are the website and mobile app for betting on baseball? Is the design easy to use and navigate? What is the experience like during in-play betting? We’ve got all of these bases covered.
- Does the sportsbook provide quality customer service? How easy is it to contact the company in the case of an issue? Is there an option for live chat to help resolve problems instantly?
- At the end of the day, betting on sports comes down to dollars and cents. Does the sportsbook provide competitive odds, a wide range of betting markets, and lucrative promotional offers? Can you live stream the baseball games that you wager on? Which oddsmakers are delivering the most value to bettors?
Bet365
With competitive odds and a comprehensive list of betting markets, Bet365 is one of the best sportsbooks for betting on baseball in Canada. It delivers a well-designed layout and smooth user experience online and via its mobile app, making it perfect for making bets while on the move. Bet365 is also one of the few sports betting apps that give users the ability to live stream the MLB games that they wager on (blackout restrictions apply), so bettors never have to miss out on the action. The MLB Early Payout offer makes it an attractive option for both single-game and parlay bettors too.
What We Like:
- Excellent baseball odds and markets
- Includes a wide variety of baseball game lines, props, and futures bets
- Sports betting leader with strong brand reputation
- Fast, responsive user interface and mobile app
- Live stream MLB and other baseball games
- 24/7 customer service via phone, email, or live chat
- MLB Early Payout offer automatically settles your selection as a winner if your team goes ahead by five runs
- Track your progress over time with account statistics for net deposits and win/loss
What We Don´t Like:
- Loyalty rewards rank behind some of its competitors
- Parlay bonuses do not apply to money line markets
- No parlay insurance
BETZEST
Betzest is a relatively new sportsbook but it boasts a strong design and user interface, which has helped it attract new bettors. While it might not have the best odds or the most markets, Bestzest delivers on most of the features necessary for an excellent sportsbook. Known more for esports and its online casino, it is earning a strong reputation in the sports betting market. BetZest offers new customers a welcome bonus and a free $5 bet every day that they bet on American sports, including baseball.
What We Like:
- Good-looking design and user interface
- Up-and-coming sportsbook
- Offers baseball game lines, props, and futures bets
- Fast withdrawals
- Easy-to-find stats and historical data
- 100% welcome bonus + $5 just for signing up (no deposit required)
What We Don´t Like:
- Very high turnover requirements for bonus
- Odds and props markets are lagging behind the competition
- No baseball-specific offers at this time
- No parlay insurance or accumulator bonuses
- No in-play graphics or pitch tracker hurt in-play betting experience
- Customer support is done via a contact form which is buried deep in the site
BetVictor
BetVictor is a reputable oddsmaker in the sports betting industry. It boasts a high-quality sportsbook with competitive odds and a wide variety of baseball markets. New users can claim one of the best welcome bonuses available in Canada with a 100% matched free bet for up to $300. With a clean user interface and a fast, responsive app, BetVictor checks all of the boxes necessary for an excellent sports betting app.
What We Like:
- Competitive baseball odds and markets
- High-quality sportsbook with a strong reputation
- Good user interface and design
- 100% Matched free bet up to $300
- Customer support options are easy to find and use
- Various payment options with fast withdrawals
What We Don´t Like:
- No baseball specific bonuses
- Futures betting options are sparse for baseball
- No pitch tracker or graphics hurt in-play betting experience
BetWay
After a shaky start, BetWay has re-established itself as a major player in the sports betting market. BetWay offers some of the best bonuses and loyalty rewards in the industry, combining its online casino and sportsbook into one seamless product. With competitive baseball odds and a long list of options for bettors to take advantage of, it has become one of the go-to sportsbooks for Canadian bettors.
What We Like:
- Excellent odds and competitive markets
- Comprehensive list of baseball game lines, props, and futures betting options
- Growing reputation in online gambling industry
- Fast withdrawal process times
- Wide range of bonuses and rewards
- Special promos for Canadian teams, including the Toronto Blue Jays
- Parlay Club rewards bettors with a free $10 every week
- Easy-to-find help features and 24/7 customer support
What We Don´t Like:
- No parlay insurance for baseball
- In-play betting experience doesn’t measure up to the competition
Bodog
Created by Canadian founder Calvin Edward Ayre, Bodog has been serving Canadian sports bettors for over 25 years. One of Canada’s most trusted sportsbooks, Bodog offers a clean look, strong promotional offers, and some of the best baseball odds on the market. Baseball bettors can take advantage of a wide range of props or make custom bets on just about anything that they can think of.
What We Like:
- Excellent odds with a wide range of baseball game lines, props, and futures
- One of the most well-known and trusted brands in the sports betting industry
- Easy-to-use interface on both website and mobile app
- Make custom bets with #Nameyourplay
- 200% Refer a Friend Bonus
- 100% Welcome Bonus for sports betting
- Excellent promotions and rewards for new users
- Wide range of banking options, including Interac e-transfer and Bitcoin
What We Don´t Like:
- Betting lines are usually posted later than most sportsbooks
- High rollover requirement for welcome bonus (5x deposit + bonus)
- In-play experience is not up-to-par with its competitors
Cyber.Bet
While CyberBet is a relatively new name in the sports betting industry, it has one of the nicest looking and most user-friendly interfaces on the web. Originally designed for esports wagering, CyberBet features a full-fledged sportsbook that gives baseball bettors the ability to take advantage of competitive odds for game lines and totals. However, it comes up short in terms of its baseball offerings, especially in the props and futures markets. Experienced bettors will also notice that certain features they’ve come to expect are also missing at CyberBet, including the option to cash out bets while events are in play.
What We Like:
- Competitive odds for baseball game lines and totals
- Up-and-coming sportsbook with a focus on e-sports
- Modern design that is easy to use and navigate
- Live chat and 24/7 customer support
- Simple and safe payment methods
What We Don´t Like:
- Promos and bonuses currently lagging behind the competition
- MLB games do not appear in the in-play section
- No cash-out or bet builder options
- Not as many props or future bets as its competitors
Hopa
Hopa is another relatively new name in the sports betting industry that is hoping to capitalize on a good-looking design. With competitive odds and a plethora of baseball props, Hopa has positioned itself as a sportsbook ready to capture a share of the betting market. It offers parlay bonuses, a daily leaderboard, and a strong loyalty rewards program that gives cash back to bettors on a monthly basis.
What We Like:
- Competitive baseball odds and markets
- Emerging sports betting brand
- Daily leaderboards and tournaments allow bettors to compete against each other
- Loyalty rewards program gives monthly cash back to frequent players
- Parlay bonuses with HopaBoost
- Wide range of payment options
What We Don´t Like:
- Transaction fees for deposits and withdrawals
- No baseball-specific promotions
- No in-play graphics or pitch tracker to follow the games in the app
10bet
While 10bet isn’t a household name in the sports betting industry, it has emerged as one of the best up-and-coming sportsbooks. With competitive odds, a well-designed app, and a variety of payment options, 10bet delivers a strong sports betting experience. For sports bettors interested in shopping for the best odds, 10bet is worth a look. However, its welcome bonuses and other promotions are not quite up to par with the competition.
What We Like:
- Some of the best baseball odds on the market
- Comprehensive list of baseball game lines, props, and futures betting options
- Responsive, easy to use mobile app creates an enjoyable betting experience
- Enhanced odds boosts
- Easy-to-access statistics and educational tools
- Wide variety of payment options, including credit card and Interac e-transfer
What We Don´t like:
- Welcome bonus lags behind the competition
- No baseball-specific promotions
- No graphics or live pitch tracker makes it difficult to follow the game on the app
Shangri La
While Shangri La Live doesn’t own the best-looking sports betting app, it makes up for it by offering some of the best baseball odds and promotions on the market. New users can benefit from a 100% deposit bonus of up to $500, which is by far the most lucrative promotion on this list. Shangri La Live is also one of the few online bookmakers that allow users to live stream MLB games, which adds some entertainment value for bettors interested in following the action.
What We Like:
- Competitive baseball odds and markets
- Very experienced and trusted bookmaker
- One of the best welcome bonuses available in Canada
- 10% weekly reload bonus
- Live stream MLB games and never miss out on the action
- Simple, safe, and easy to use payment options
What We Don´t Like:
- Website and mobile app do not look as good as other top competitors
- No baseball-specific promotions
- No parlay bonuses or odds boosts
- Doesn’t offer as many player props and futures bets as other top sportsbooks
How To Bet On Baseball
American vs. Decimal Odds
When accessing a sportsbook for the first time, users might see a variation in the way that the odds are displayed, which can be confusing for new bettors. There are three main types of odds that appear as settings at different sportsbooks: American, decimal, and fractional.
Normally, either American or decimal odds will be selected as the default setting.
Most bookmakers allow users to change the way that their odds are displayed in their account settings.
How to read American odds
For most Canadian bettors, American odds might seem a little foreign and less intuitive than decimal odds. The format uses a minus sign (-) to represent which team is the favorite and a plus sign (+) to delineate the underdog in a particular match.
When betting on the favorite (-), American odds show how the amount of money that a bettor would have to wager in order to win $100 in profits. When backing the underdog, American odds show the total amount of profits (+) on a $100 wager.
In the example above, the New York Mets are getting -210 odds on the money line against the Pittsburgh Pirates. This means that to win $100 in profits, a prospective money line bettor would have to wager $210 on the Mets to win. A $100 wager would net bettors a total of $47 in profits, which is equivalent to about 1.47 in decimal odds.
Meanwhile, the sportsbook is also offering +175 odds for backing the Pirates, meaning prospective $100 bettors would stand to profit $175 for a total return of $275 if Pittsburgh wins the game. This is equal to a 2.75 odd using the decimal system.
How to read decimal odds
For most bettors, decimal odds are a little bit easier to understand, especially when betting on a team that is favored to win the game. When using decimal odds, the team valued at the higher number is the underdog while the team valued at the lower number is considered to be the favorite.
However, calculating your payout works the same no matter which team you decide to bet on. Simply multiply your wager by the odds of your selection to receive your total return.
At Shangri La Live, decimal odds are used for the default setting. They are offering money line odds for the Mets at 1.47 and 2.80 for the Pirates.
In this case, $100 bettors would stand to profit $180 for a total return of $280 (100 x 2.8) with a Pirates win. Similarly, a $100 bet on the Mets would pay $47 in profits and bring in a total return of $147 (100 x 1.47).
How Does Baseball Betting Work?
With props markets still developing across many sportsbooks, game lines are still the most popular option for most baseball bettors. Game lines are separated into three main categories: money line, total, and run line (spread).
Money Line:
While other sports rely on point spreads to even out the odds, baseball is typically considered a money line sport. This means that bettors don’t have to worry about winning the game by a certain margin of victory. Instead, they can simply wager on the outcome of a match, predicting the winner at a predetermined price. In most instances, baseball money line odds are priced relatively evenly, between +/- 100 and +/- 300 depending on the caliber of the teams.
Example:
Above, you will find an example from a regular-season game between the New York Mets and Pittsburgh Pirates. The Mets, who lead the National League East division with a 45-38 overall record, come into this game as heavy favorites. Despite their poor record, money line bettors might find some value on the Pirates in this game. While $100 bettors would earn $47 profit with a Mets’ victory, the same $100 wager would earn bettors $175 in profits in the event of a Pirates’ win.
Total:
At times, bettors may not want to choose the winner of a game but will know whether a contest will be a high or low-scoring affair. In these cases, bettors would be wise to wager on the total instead. When wagering on the total, bettors are only asked to predict whether a game will go over or under a projected number of runs determined by the oddsmakers.
If a bettor selects the over, their wager will be settled as a winner if the two teams combine for more runs than the projected total. On the other hand, if the under is selected, the wager will be settled as a winner if the two teams combine to score fewer than the projected number of runs.
Example:
Sticking with the same game above, the Mets and Pirates are projected for a total of 7.5 runs. That means over bettors will need both teams to combine for at least eight runs while under bettors will be rooting for the game to stay at or below seven runs.
Betting on the total can be a strong play when bettors believe that a pitcher or pitching staff will do well versus an opponent. Over/Under odds are usually priced close to even money, which is another way that bettors can identify value when one team is heavily favored in a game.
In this particular contest, Mets’ starter Taijuan Walker enters with a 7-3 overall record and a 2.44 ERA, making the under an attractive bet. He has allowed two earned runs or fewer in 12 of his 15 starts while Pirates’ starter J.T. Brubaker has pitched better at home (3.40 ERA) compared to on the road (4.70 ERA).
However, under bettors will have to eat a little bit of extra juice in this scenario, as they stand to profit $87 compared to $95 for over bettors on a $100 wager.
Run Line:
For bettors looking to increase their odds, point spreads are also available in the form of run lines. In baseball, run lines set odds for the favorite to win by -1.5 runs while the underdog will normally be priced with odds at +1.5. For a run line bet to be settled as a winner, the favorite must win by at least two runs while the underdog must win outright or lose by only one run.
Bettors must pay extra attention when analyzing run lines in baseball. Not only must they be aware of which team is the favorite but bettors must also keep an eye on the amount of juice on baseball run lines, which will change based on the team and starting pitcher for each contest.
Example:
In the game we noted above, taking the Mets to win on the money line forces bettors to eat a considerable amount of juice.
For every $100 wagered, bettors will earn only $47 profit if the Mets come out on top. Instead, bettors that are interested in taking the Mets but are looking for more value might opt for the run line, which offers much more attractive odds. A $100 bet on the run line would net bettors a healthy profit of $105 if New York wins by at least two runs, an increase in profits of over 123 percent.
Betting on the run line also allows underdog bettors to mitigate some of their risk at +1.5 runs. In this scenario, the Pirates, who are heavy underdogs on the money line, are actually favored to cover 1.5 runs and would net bettors just $80 in profits on a $100 wager.
Game Props:
In addition to traditional game lines, most sportsbooks will also offer game props for every baseball game. Game props can help bettors get more specific and creative with their wagers, especially in baseball. Bettors can choose to bet on the 5-inning money line, winning margin, correct match score, and more. Choosing an online sportsbook that offers a lot of game props or the ability to create your own props can give fans an opportunity to identify additional value in a particular contest.
Example:
Going back to the same Mets-Pirates game, you will notice a slight difference between the odds for the money line and the 5-inning line. The 5-inning line can be a strategic tool for bettors that want to rely on or bet against a particular starting pitcher. It also allows bettors to avoid shaky bullpens and poor managerial decisions later in the game, helping bettors avoid the possibility of a late-game comeback.
Once mastered, bettors can use game props to their advantage and narrow their selections down to more specific markets. In this case, taking the Pirates on the 5-inning line would help bettors avoid a bullpen that ranks 18th in the MLB with a 4.25 ERA.
Player Props:
Bettors don’t just use analytics to find an edge when wagering on the outcome of a game. Like in daily fantasy sports, fans can use their knowledge of individual players to earn money betting on baseball. Several of the top sportsbooks offer player props for both hitters and starting pitchers in each contest. Bettors can take a starting pitcher to record the win or a position player to record a hit, among many other selections.
Example:
While most bookmakers offer the same kinds of game lines and props, player props markets can often vary greatly between the different sportsbooks. In this example, we used a player prop from the same New York Mets vs. Pittsburgh Pirates game, taken from Bodog.
Baseball fans looking for some excitement can predict which player will hit the game’s first home run. As you can see, bettors stand to profit a considerable amount from making the correct selection with the favorite, Mets’ slugger Pete Alonso, set at +900 odds.
Taking a Mets’ player could pay off big in this instance. Brubaker has given up 16 home runs in just 15 starts, including six over his last three appearances. He’s also posted a career-worst 1.72 home runs per nine innings of work in 2021.
Futures Bets:
A futures bet is a speculative wager on an event that will take place in the future. Bookmakers will usually offer futures bets during the preseason, regular season, and playoffs, allowing bettors to predict the outright winner, league winners, and division winners.
Betting on team win totals prior to the start of the regular season is one of the most popular season-long wagers in baseball. The best sportsbooks will also offer futures player props and season specials, including odds for the MVP Award, Cy Young Award, and the player to hit the most home runs.
When it comes to betting on baseball, futures bets are one of the most profitable types of wagers for sports bettors and the odds can vary greatly across different sportsbooks. As a result, it is very important to shop for the best odds to maximize the return of your futures bet.
Example:
To illustrate the importance of shopping for odds in the futures market, we’ll use the MLB-best San Francisco Giants as an example. Through 86 games, San Francisco owns the best record in baseball with a 54-32 overall mark. At Bet365, the Giants are a modest +1300 to win the World Series (see above). That means a $100 wager would earn a prospective bettor a smooth $1300 in profits.
However, if that same bettor were to shop for odds at another bookie, they would have received 21:1 odds at the same time. That same $100 wager on the Giants at another bookie would bring in a total of $2,100 and $2,000 in profits. This makes a difference of $700, increasing profits by over 53 percent.
Parlay:
A parlay is a type of wager that combines two or more selections together into one single bet. It is a powerful tool that can increase the overall risk and reward of a single bet. If any selection in the parlay loses, the entire bet is settled as a loss. Some sportsbooks encourage bettors to make parlay bets by offering bonuses, boosted odds, and parlay insurance, which refunds your money if only one of your selections loses. In a parlay, the odds of each selection are multiplied together, increasing the odds and potential return of a single wager.
Example:
The example above shows the power and profit potential of parlay betting.
We executed a parlay bet above to generate a total odds of 12.58 (+1158).
If all three teams won, a $100 bettor would earn $405 in profit while risking a total of $300 on three single-game bets.
Meanwhile, the bettor who won the parlay shown above would take home an exciting $1158 in profit while risking only $100.
Many sportsbooks also offer parlay boosters and accumulator bonuses, helping bettors get even more value out of their parlay bets.
Baseball Betting Lines
Once you open your favorite sports betting app, you will notice that the odds for the betting lines in baseball are constantly changing. Line movements usually occur based on the total number of bets and the total amount of money coming in on either team, as well as the amount of overall risk that an oddsmaker is willing to take on for a particular contest.
The odds may also move for reasons unrelated to betting, especially when new information is released. If a key player is injured or a starting pitcher is changed prior to game time, it is not uncommon for sportsbooks to temporarily remove the odds from the market and change the game lines to a more suitable number.
The betting lines for baseball are usually very sharp but there are still discrepancies between the various oddsmakers at different times throughout the day. Sports bettors that are serious about turning a profit and maximizing their edge are advised to fund accounts at multiple sportsbooks in order to shop for the best odds.
Once you’ve found the sportsbooks that you’re most comfortable with, simply select the best odds for the markets that you are interested in betting on. While +5 or +15 added onto a money line wager might not seem like a substantial amount, those small efficiencies can add up over time and help bettors turn a profit over the course of a full season.
Example:
Here, we’ll use the same Mets-Pirates game as an example.
Below, you will see that BetVictor was offering the JT Brubaker and the Pirates at 2.75 odds while Taijuan Walker and the Mets came in at 1.40 odds.
At the same time, bettors could have earned an extra 0.05 in odds on the Pirates and an additional 0.07 on the Mets simply by opting to make their wager on Shangri La Live.
Over the course of a long baseball season, finding additional value can help bettors minimize the juice and maximize their profits.
Baseball Betting Odds
While Major League Baseball is the world’s most popular baseball league, there are several other baseball markets available for bettors to take advantage of. In addition to the MLB, most sportsbooks also offer odds for the KBO, college baseball, minor league baseball, and more.
MLB Betting Odds
Not all sportsbooks will carry the same props and futures bets. However, most oddsmakers will offer the standard game lines (money line, total, and run line) for all MLB contests. Baseball betting markets are usually separated into game lines, main props, player props, innings props, teams props, and game props.
World Series Betting Odds
Every sportsbook offers futures markets for the World Series but the odds can vary greatly, especially over the course of the season. When betting on the World Series, shopping around for the best price at the various sportsbooks can help maximize profits. And for futures bettors looking to select a specific team, a little due diligence could go a long way when it’s time to get paid.
KBO Betting Odds
Just about every year, a player from the KBO takes the MLB by storm. As a result, more baseball fans are paying attention to the KBO than ever before and the sportsbooks have taken notice as well. Baseball bettors can find KBO game lines offered throughout the regular season and the playoffs. While the screenshot below is from Cyber.Bet, Bet365, BetVictor, and Shangri La Live are among the other sportsbooks that offer KBO betting odds.
Minor League Betting Odds
Minor league baseball tends to feature softer game lines and some of baseball’s most talented up-and-coming stars, which makes it an attractive option for sharp bettors. Several sportsbooks offer game lines for minor league baseball contests, including Bet365, BetVictor, Shangri La Live, and more.
Baseball Betting Tips
When it comes to sports betting, each individual has a different level of risk tolerance, so it’s important for bettors to remember to risk only what they can afford to lose. For betters looking to maximize their return on investment, bankroll management is one of the keys to long-term success, especially over the grind of a 162-game baseball season.
Baseball’s Moneyball revolution wasn’t just a hit at the box office. Analytics and advanced data are still very much at the forefront of the conversation in baseball, so bettors that do their homework have a chance to gain an edge on the oddsmakers. To be successful, sharp bettors should analyze pitcher matchups, identify offensive trends, and look for spots for regression throughout the season.
Since the baseball regular-season schedule is long, gaining a small edge can add up to considerable profits over time. This makes single-game betting a popular option for high-volume bettors. To help maximize their profits, bettors should fund accounts with multiple sportsbooks in order to shop around and take advantage of the best prices.
Baseball Betting Picks
Whether you are just getting started or are a more seasoned bettor, gathering information and reading picks from different sportswriters can add entertainment value and anticipation to the sports betting experience. Many websites offer free picks, in-depth analysis, predictions, statistics, and more, which can help bettors take decisive action or identify value that they previously didn’t know existed.
However, bettors should be wary of any website, social media account, or tout that claims to guarantee bettors a profit in certain sports. No matter if a tout sells picks individually or as part of a larger organization, it is best not to take these claims too seriously.
Sports betting at a profitable rate is a very difficult task and the few individuals that do have an edge aren’t likely to give it away.
When a sharp bettor has an edge, it is usually just a small efficiency that will only generate a substantial profit when applied at a high volume over a long period of time. As more bettors begin to jump on the trend, the oddsmakers adjust and the edge starts to disappear.
This means anyone with a real edge stands to gain more from actually wagering on the games than selling their picks or system.
Baseball Betting Forums
For baseball fans that want to discuss games and potential picks with fellow bettors, there are many platforms online with strong sports betting communities. Reddit also has a sportsbook subreddit, where bettors of all skill levels can share picks, talk about wins and losses, or chime in for entertainment purposes.
Baseball Betting Systems
Beating the sportsbooks is no easy task. Like in most sports, the game lines in baseball are generally very sharp and there is no proven system that works to turn a profit year over year. While no method has a 100 percent success rate, there are some general rules of thumb that have earned bettors a lot of money over time.
For fans looking to identify value, betting on underdogs is often considered the safest route for long-term success and home underdogs tend to win more than road dogs. Sharp bettors also tend to target teams playing within their division, where opponents are more familiar with one another, creating greater sample sizes and more data to analyze.
Bettors can also find value by identifying trends that emerge during an individual season. Every year, certain teams and starting pitchers are undervalued by the oddsmakers, opening up opportunities for successful baseball bettors to turn a profit.
Below, you will find two charts from Covers.com that help illustrate how identifying trends can generate value for bettors over the course of a full season.
In the chart above, there are a few things that jump out immediately. First, the best teams aren’t always the most profitable teams to bet on. Take the Detroit Tigers as an example. Despite sitting eight games below the .500-mark with a 39-47 overall record, Detroit has been the fifth-most profitable team in baseball this season, generating +832 profit for prospective bettors.
Similarly, the Seattle Mariners are just three games above the .500-mark with a 45-42 record. However, bettors would have earned +1685 on their overall investment if they bet on Seattle to win every game.
With the L.A. Dodgers coming off of a World Series win and the San Diego Padres generating a lot of offseason hype, the San Francisco Giants slipped under the radar in 2021. Through 86 games, the Giants own the best record in baseball at 54-32 and have earned prospective bettors a whopping +1828 already this year.
The same trends also emerge when evaluating starting pitchers.
Once again, we will look at the Tigers in this example. Detroit is just 10-7 in right-hander Casey Mize’s 17 starts but that has been good enough to make him the most profitable starting pitcher in the MLB this season. Prospective bettors would have profited +948 by betting on the Tigers in each of Mize’s starts this year.
Meanwhile, Mariners’ rookie Logan Gilbert has made just nine starts but has brought in a healthy +807 in profits to prospective bettors, making him the MLB’s fourth-most profitable pitcher.
Baseball Betting Rules
Inclement Weather & Postponements
Betting on most sports is fairly straightforward but baseball has a few subtle distinctions, especially when it comes to the rules at different sportsbooks.
Inclement weather often interrupts the baseball season, forcing games to be postponed, canceled, or called final after a certain number of innings. Other times, a starting pitcher can be changed at the last second without bettors or the oddsmakers having a chance to make an adjustment.
In these types of extenuating circumstances, the process for how your bet will be settled will be dependent on the rules at your particular sportsbook. In the case of inclement weather, one sportsbook might consider all games final after five innings while others may only honor your bet if a full nine-inning game is played.
Example:
It is not uncommon for bookmakers to have different rules for what happens when a baseball game is suspended, postponed, or called final due to inclement weather. At BetZest, all baseball wagers are settled in accordance with the official results of the match. See the photo below for details.
At other sportsbooks, like BetWay, different betting markets are subject to different sets of rules. For instance, money line wagers are subject to a 4 ½ innings rule whereas run line and total bets are subject to an 8 ½ innings rule. As you can see below, this is a common occurrence in the sports betting industry.
Note the difference between the rules in the photos shown for run line and total bets (above) and money line wagers (below).
Props and futures bets are often subject to these types of rules as well, so it is important for sports bettors to read and understand the rules at their favorite sportsbook before betting on baseball online.
Listed Pitcher Action
Another set of rules that is unique to baseball betting is the ability to set provisions for a bet to become void if the listed pitchers do not start the game.
While it is not a common occurrence, there are moments during the baseball season when a listed pitcher is scratched ahead of their scheduled start. This can leave both bettors and bookmakers in a compromising position. In order to avoid any misunderstandings, some sportsbooks give bettors the ability to void their bet if the expected starters do not pitch.
Setting the listed pitcher action allows bettors to add a rule for the bet to become void if one or both of the listed pitchers does not start. When a bettor chooses to set the rule to “Action”, their bet will be settled in accordance with the final result no matter who starts the game for either team.
Some sportsbooks will have “Action” as the default selection while others will have “Both pitchers” listed as the default option.
Example:
The screenshot above is from Bodog, which is one of the many oddsmakers that allow bettors to add provisions for listed pitcher action to their bets. As you can see, there are options to choose whether the action will depend on one, both, or none of the listed pitchers starting the game.
This only applies to some sportsbooks and bettors can use it strategically to their advantage.
Having the option to set pitcher action can be a valuable tool for sports bettors, helping them mitigate risk in the case of last-second injuries or changes to the starting rotation. Bettors can also set the rule to “Action”, which can be especially useful if they catch the announcement for a pitching change before the oddsmakers.
To avoid getting thrown a last-second curveball, we summarized some of the main rules discrepancies at the different sportsbooks. You can find a chart that breaks down some of the differences below:
Baseball Rules for the Top 10 Sportsbooks in Canada 4 ½ innings rule 8 ½ innings rule Pitcher Action Bet365 ✅Money Line ✅Run Line ✅Total
✅Available BetZest ✅Money Line ✅Run Line
✅Total
❌Not Available ❌Not Available BetVictor ✅Money Line ✅Run Line ✅Total
✅Available BetWay ✅Money Line ✅Run Line ✅Total
✅Available Bodog ✅Money Line ✅Run Line ✅Total
✅Available CyberBet ❌Not Available ❌Not Available ❌Not Available Hopa ✅Money Line ✅Run Line ✅Total
✅Available Shangri La Live ✅Money Line ✅Run Line ✅Total
❌Not Available 10Bet ✅Money Line ✅Run Line ✅Total
✅Available What is the best baseball betting site?
For individual users, the best baseball betting site will simply come down to preference and timing.
Bet365, Shangri La Live, and Bodog are among the sportsbooks with the best odds, making them an attractive option for Canadian bettors. However, competitive odds aren’t the only feature that bettors are looking for in a sportsbook.
The look, feel, and speed of the apps also play a major role in where fans decide to place their wagers. Bettors that prefer to make in-play wagers or follow the games online might opt for an oddsmaker that allows them to stream baseball games directly from the sports betting app. Graphics and a live pitch tracker are also important tools that allow bettors to make quick decisions without switching back and forth between apps.
Bonuses and loyalty rewards are another way that sportsbooks try to gain new customers. With new oddsmakers flooding the market, bettors have a unique opportunity to exploit the welcome bonuses at more than one sportsbook at a time. Choosing an oddsmaker with a bonus and rewards structure that is tailored towards your style of betting can help increase your bankroll and return on investment while adding value to your sports betting experience.
For instance, finding a sportsbook with daily parlay boosts, accumulator bonus, and parlay insurance might be more important for parlay bettors. On the other hand, single-game bettors might decide to choose a bookmaker with the best odds or an early payout option.
With some due diligence and discipline, online baseball betting can be a very lucrative investment, especially over the course of a full season. In order to shop around for the best odds and maximize potential bonus rewards, bettors should fund accounts with multiple sportsbooks.
Whether you’re interested in the best bonuses or prefer to live stream games on your favorite sportsbook, choosing one of the top ten bookmakers can help fans get the most out of their sports betting experience.
Sportsbook Futures Odds Comparison
To demonstrate how futures odds can differ between oddsmakers, we compiled MLB futures odds from each of the top-10 sportsbooks. Below, you will find a table to compare the 2021 World Series odds for 10 of the top MLB teams from 10 of the best sportsbooks in Canada.
2021 World Series Odds* Bet365 Bet Zest Bet Victor Bet Way BoDog Cyber.Bet Hopa Shangri La Live 10Bet L.A. Dodgers +400 +380 N/A +375 +350 N/A +370 +333 +370 HOU Astros +550 +565 N/A +600 +575 N/A +650 +500 +650 SD Padres +650 +690 N/A +700 +700 N/A +750 +650 +750 CHI White Sox +650 +710 N/A +800 +725 N/A +800 +650 +800 NY Mets +850 +850 N/A +900 +900 N/A +775 +900 +775 TB Rays +1100 +1240 N/A +1200 +1400 N/A +1500 +1100 +1500 NY Yankees +2200 +2180 N/A +2000 +1800 N/A +1800 +1600 +1800 SF Giants +1200 +1390 N/A +1500 +1600 N/A +2000 +1225 +2000 OAK Athletics +1700 +1650 N/A +1600 +1800 N/A +2400 +1400 +2400 MIL Brewers
+1000 +1110 N/A +1000 +1200 N/A +1300 +900 +1300 *All odds are as of July 10, 2021.
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